Barndoor Strategy CEO addressed the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) fringe at the recent Llandudno Welsh Conservatives Conference alongside Rt. Hon. Stephen Crabb MP and Sam Kurtz AM.  With large offshore wind arrays facing Llandudno the meeting heard from RWE’s John McKenzie regarding their offshore wind plans and the skills pipeline they were creating at Llandrillo College.  The event was chaired by Tara-Jane Sutcliffe of CEN.

Hughes made the point that Offshore Wind offered considerable benefits in terms of scale and reliability while reducing the impact on residents and local communities.  There is significant and growing opposition to local windfarm plans across many counties in Wales as knowledge of the Welsh Government’s Future Wales 2040 strategy spreads.

Future Wales 2040 was adopted during the pandemic based on a desk assessment of suitable windfarm sites.  Residents and communities were not consulted.  This is generating a huge public backlash as projects are announced endangering local industries such as tourism and jobs.  Hughes contrasted the communities in North Wales who are desperately seeking SMR and conventional nuclear development with communities in West Wales who are waking up to find their home has been deemed suitable for industrial wind development with 270 metre turbines 500 metres from their front door.

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